Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-20
BEVERLY FARMS.
Ieishteen Thousand Dollars Testified to
nave Been Raised TO Further lis In.
corporatiOn-SomeD Details as Ia Names
and Amounts Given,
ROsroN Anil TO

m BOSTON, April 10.
Inc legislative hearing in the Beverly
bribery case was resumed Tuesday, and there
was large attendance of spectators. the in.
terest in the hearing being great, franklin
haven, Jr., the FIRST witness, said that al.
tnougn interested IN the division of the town
he mad never made a2y attempt to bribe or
corrupt any senator in the interest Of divis.
ion. NA'''
Gen. c. L. Pearson testified that SIS 600
hao oeen raised TO further the scheme of ai.
VISION ana that Sl5 900 of the amount was
disbursed, but he did not know that money
hao oeen spent in lobbying. Instruction had
Deen expressly given that money should not
be used in any form of bribery or corrun.
ton.
Money had been disbursed by Fred Fl
Williams, who testified that he had been re
tanned by Beverly divisionists and that some
OF the money he had credited to himself for
personal services. The effort being made to
lnduce Williams to show a record of the dis.
ourseDent of money led John Collins to pro.
test against the exhibition of Williams pri
vate accounts, but Messrs. Hoar and Doherty
strenuously urged that the very object of in.
vestlgation would be ignored if the records of
Williams disburse ments were not admitted
in testimony
The legislative committed decided that the
accounts should be exhibited con6deptially
to committee and counsel, and that this ex-
animation should decide in their minds how
lar, II at all, the accounts should be made
public. MIR. Hoar said if he found any item
IN the accounts having any material bearing
IN the matter he would feel bound to make il
public Williams account book was then
turned ever TO the committee after its exam
ination. Williams resumed his testimony to
the effect that he had paid 5000 In all TO Jesse
Plerson on various dates.
Williams further testified that he had paid
500 to Geo. IL. Fernsld, who was to have
5000 for his personal services. lie did not
consider Fernald lobbyist He also paid
ID. w. Hardy sums amounting in all to $1,000
To Messrs. Young and Nichols he paid 500
each. There was no particular stipulation
in the event of the vote going either way and
the money was paid entirely for personal
services. The reason why Mr. Fernald was
retained was because last year very few votes
from Worcester were TO be had. The case
being peculiar one they retained the most
reputable lobbyists they could secure. He
was sorry that they had to resort to such
measures but they were sure they would
never gain their point by ordinary means
Mr.. Townsend, who was familiar with Essex
county, was paid 5000 and the other lobbyists
employed were Thomas Marsh and Messrs.
Pratt and Reynolds.
Various sums were paid to other persons
in the case. He retained no vouchers for
the amount spent. And nobody was employed
because they three were thought to be int-
mate with any legislator. Only S32 had been
paid for wining and dining the interested
parties. The greater part of the money
spent by Mr.. Hardy, who was chairman of
the committee, was for barge hire and other
legislative committee expenses. MIR. Will
liams tt stiied that he had spent about Sl0,-
900. The money given to Pierce was because
it was thought he had influence with the X
of l. , who were working against the division
very hard Chas. +. Preston, chairman of
the Beverly town committee, testified that he
had spent $500, but none of it to improperly
influence any legislative members. The
hearing was adjourned.